The X-Files Season 10: What You Need To Know

Unless you spent yesterday under a rock somewhere, you probably caught the news that the previously announced X-Files comics scheduled to begin in June have now been officially announced as the show’s season 10 a la Buffy The Vampire Slayer. The show’s creator Chris Carter has officially signed on as an executive producer to the series, similar to Joss Whedon’s role with Angel: After the Fall, making sure the new stories fit into the show’s extensive pre-existing canon. Here’s what we’ve been able to gather so far about the new season from official sources in a simple Q&A that includes spoilers from throughout the show’s run:

When is the new season set?

The X-Files: Season 10 is set after the second X-Files film I Want to Believe, however just how soon after those events issue one will begin is the source of some speculation. Joe Harris, one of the creative team behind the new season has simply stated that the first arc “picks up some time after the last movie.”

Where does that fit with the shows existing mythology?

In the show’s final episode, the Cigarette Smoking Man told Mulder and Scully that the date of the final alien invasion was set for December 22nd, 2012. Later, in an interview with MovieWeb, Frank Spotnitz stated that I Want to Believe was set in 2008, six years after the events that climaxed the show’s finale. If Season 10 is set immediately after IWTB then that gives Mulder & Scully a little under four years at best to stop colonization. However in an interview with Comic Book Resources, Joe Harris was asked how he plans to address the date issue seeing as how Season 10 “debuts in 2013” and he refused to answer. CBR could have their wires crossed and simply be assuming that the new series is set this year, however if they’re right then it will be interesting to see how and why the colonization plan has changed.

Yes. The mythology is going to get re-started right from issue one when Mulder and Scully learn that someone is targeting anyone who was ever involved with the X-Files division. The first arc will, according to Bleeding Cool’s coverage of the IDW Panel at ECCC, “seek to bring the mythology of the Alien Conspiracy back up to date in a more paranoid, post-terror, post-wikileaks society.” The mytharc will continue throughout the new season interspersed with Monster of The Week stories that will include some sequels for classic episodes.

What’s the situation with Mulder & Scully?

At the show’s finale Mulder was a fugitive from the government having escaped prison and the death penalty for the murder of Knowle Rohrer (who didn’t actually die as such but hey, whatever). We last saw him on the run with Scully who had given their baby up for adoption (I know, don’t even get me started). By the time of IWTB they were living in a house in rural Virginia and Scully was somehow a brain surgeon working at a Catholic hospital (no really, don’t get me started) until the FBI asked for their help on the case and “forgave” Mulder in order to get him involved (seriously, DO NOT GET ME STARTED). Season 10 will begin with Mulder & Scully living “normal lives together under secret identities” and will re-establish the pair as FBI agents when individuals associated with the currently closed X-Files division start being mysteriously killed.

On a more personal note Mulder & Scully became an item in the show’s seventh season, albeit very subtly, and they were clearly together in the second film to the point of sharing a home and a bed. Season 10 will continue from this point with the pair together romantically but anyone familiar with the show will know that the course of Mulder and Scully’s love never ran smoothly and we can expect this to be the case in Season 10 as events unfold that will test them once again.

Will we see other recurring characters from the show?

Almost certainly, however as the opening story begins with the deaths of people associated with the X-Files so some of them might not make it very far! Skinner made a brief appearance in IWTB where he was still with the FBI, but nothing was mentioned then about later recurring characters Agents John Doggett & Monica Reyes so hopefully their stories will be cleared up as the season begins. A number of favorite characters were killed off during the show’s death throes, however this is fiction and so who’s to say if anyone unexpected might be coming back after all.

Who’s writing and illustrating the stories?

Joe Harris, recently of Great Pacific but who has also worked on Vampirella, Legends of The Dark Knight and Ghost Projekt has been brought on-board to write alongside artist Michael Walsh and colorist Jordie Bellaire who will be providing the artwork. Chris Carter has signed on as executive producer and is providing feedback to the creative team regarding scripts and outlines to keep the new stories in line with existing and on-going canon.